St. Patrick's weekend spent in downtown Savannah is a little bit crazy. But when you mix it up with breaks for frozen yogurt, quiet nights on the balcony, sewing, and making dinner with the windows open, it's quite nice.
This weekend marks the end of my spring break. 'Twas good while it lasted. xo
After playing with kids, doing crafts, and getting last-minute-stressful-school-things sorted out last week, I needed a break. I had forgotten what it was like to have a busy week and really need the weekend (but no longer...I start school TODAY).
We started with a Friday night bike ride all over downtown and around the pretty, picturesque squares. On Saturday, we made a huge breakfast for two, scouted craigslist furniture, watched movies. After church on Sunday, friends came over to borrow my sewing machine and brought strawberries and chocolate as a thank-you. We melted, dipped, and ate them all within minutes. Nilla wafers and popcorn made their way into the chocolate as well.
The weekend was drizzly, which makes for the most wonderful cool nighttime walks - weather so perfect you (I) want to cry.
Daytime adventures, nighttime cooking + movie watching. I could get used to this. Leah, please move to Savannah? We have made dinner every night together, watched a ton of movies, walked all over this beautiful city, done more blanket laying than usual, eaten lots of good things, and accidentally gotten tans.
p.s. I could start a weekly segment titled "Leah drinking from bottles" with all the pictures I have of this happening.
Over the past few months, I have spent hours and days stalking craigslist, emailing about a thousand people, memorizing just about all the street names in Savannah, and looking at tons of pictures in an effort to find the perfect apartment for us.
I happened to email yet another property owner from my phone today while Jeff and I were walking downtown. They called me back, we went to look at it...yada yada yada...we signed a lease about three hours later.
Our apartment will be one block away from my favorite place in Savannah. Words cannot describe how excited I am. I really have no words. June can't come soon enough!
Got up before 8 (a miracle) on Saturday to go yard sale-ing. Bought a vintage wool coat for a dollar...still can't believe it.
Bought strawberries from the side of the road. And thin mints.
Did a lot of dog watching and blanket laying.
Paid way too much for sunday brunch after church.
Watched Diamonds Are Forever & Live and Let die. We've been having a slow going Bond-A-Thon for the past few months.
Made more granola. We can't get enough.
Rode around with the top down on an incredibly hot sunny day and I didn't even complain. I actually kind of liked it a lot.
photo: pretty house with a tiny front yard full of tulips on Troup Square spotted after brunch
Sometimes I have a hard time doing fun things by myself. I'll wait until Jeff is off work or friends are in town to do the things I want to do. But yesterday I really needed to get some Christmas shopping done (we didn't have any presents under the tree until last night) and I knew I wanted to get most of the gifts from downtown, so I went by myself while Jeff was at work. It may seem silly, but I get nervous about driving/parking downtown alone with all the one way streets and parking meters. Blah, I would just rather not deal with it.* Can't wait to live downtown so I can just walk everywhere!
Well I'm happy to say that I am no longer afraid of going downtown by myself, or eating lunch by myself, or doing things I've been wanting to do by myself. Yesterday was wonderful.
This sun-drenched tree made me oh so happy. I love the way it's reaching over the sidewalk.
Pretty floral plate in the Paris Market.
I love this wall of notes in the Paris Market. They have pencils and papers and push pins so you can write things that you are thankful for and post them for everyone to see. My favorites are the ones that have stick figure illustrations on them and one that says UNICORNS.
And the most wonderful thing about yesterday is that I finally tried Papillote - a tiny little french restaurant I've been curious about for forever, but have been waiting to try it until the perfect time. (Why!? Why do I do that?) I can safely say that I have a favorite restaurant.
French cuisine + adorable atmosphere + sweet employees = perfection.
*I realize I would probably just fall over and die in a big city with this attitude. But I grew up in a town that had a Main Street.
I have been wanting to go inside the Paris Market & Brocante ever since I first saw it downtown, but every time we passed it, it was either closed or we were on our way somewhere. So Jeff and I finally went in on Saturday after lunch. It is a cute little shop with all things paris including books, jewelry, candles, curtains and lamps, old fashioned candy, and, of course, cafe chairs!
They had perfect fall decorations and the entire front of the store smelled amazing due to their mini pumpkin potpourri that was for sale.
And the part I took home with me: a FLEUR de caramel. Creamy caramel with fleur de sel throughout, which opened up a whole new world of candy loving for me. So I plan to make these sometime in the future (because I trust Ina with all things Paris), and these (because I trust Olivia with all things brownie).
On Saturday I got to see what Savannah looks like from a hotel rooftop. I think it is just as gorgeous from up high as it is from the sidewalks, but I prefer to be under the trees.
